Duke-Rutgers game thread

[throatybeard]

Arizona State pulled away from Bowling Green with relative ease and won 67-49. So that's who we get in the final if we beat Rutgers.

[godukecom]

this game is getting very frustrating early...

[throatybeard]

Awesome graphic just now: Bales' NCAAT blocked shots, 60, #1 all time. Lobo, Riley in the high 30s.

[_Gary]

Could someone notify the women's team that they are supposed to be playing right now. Geesh they look uninspired.

Gary

[throatybeard]

I have to wonder if Alleva's public, oral lack of support for Goestenkors during the NCAA Tournament is a morale problem for the team.

[_Gary]

I have to wonder if Alleva's public, oral lack of support for Goestenkors during the NCAA Tournament is a morale problem for the team.

Well it sure as heck can't help. I'm hoping with senior leadership the team can overlook such obvious distractions and focus on the task at hand, but this gossip going around about Coach G has got to have some adverse affect. After all, these girls are only human.

Gary

[_Gary]

I know it's tough to gage these things, and some of you will say I'm wrong, but I'm seeing Rutgers want this game more than Duke. They clearly get all the points for hustle and determination. They've taken it to Duke ever since that early time-out in the second half when Duke was up 10 with the ball. That should have been the time to stick the dagger in, but the Lady Blue Devils didn't do it and now they could easily go home today.

Gary

[Karl Beem]

Just like the NCSU game.

[Karl Beem]

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[YmoBeThere]

and they both miss...

[_Gary]

and the saddest part is, I'm not surprised in the least...

Gary

[365Duke]

feeling so bad for a player. Thanks you Lindsey and Alison. What a heart breaker

[calltheobvious]

Well, this one's on the coach. Duke had the lead with three fouls to give with under a minute left. Instructions should have been to foul rather than even give up the opportunity at a three-point shot. Harding should have given the foul, but instead she played defense, tripped over the screener, and gave up an uncontested 3, lead down to 1.

Duke gets an offensive board on its next possession, which gets stripped, good play RU, but Duke defenders should have been making a beeline at the dribbler to give the foul. Instead, they tried to actually defend, and they gave up the basket.

Heartbreaking loss for Lindsey and the team, but even playing an uninspired game, if G had shown greater situational awareness, the odds of this last-minute collapse shrink to very, very close to zero.

[Sixthman]

Played not to lose from the tip off.

[throatybeard]

We will never see Harding or Bales in a Duke uniform again.

[Son of Jarhead]

Talk about heartbreaking.

Chin up, girl... we still love ya'. Two missed free-throws does not erase four wonderful years.

[feldspar]

Well...that sucks.

[3rd Dukie]

I know it's tough to gage these things, and some of you will say I'm wrong, but I'm seeing Rutgers want this game more than Duke. They clearly get all the points for hustle and determination. They've taken it to Duke ever since that early time-out in the second half when Duke was up 10 with the ball. That should have been the time to stick the dagger in, but the Lady Blue Devils didn't do it and now they could easily go home today.

Gary

In hindsight, that was the turning point alright. Except for the 2 muffed free throws. The Rutgers team was just a whirling dervish. They seemed to get EVERY single loose ball. How could this possibly be the same team we beat by 40??

[jimsumner]

Is it baseball season yet?

No way to put any kind of positive spin on this. I've rarely seen an athletic team so visibly tight.

[Madrasdukie]

That was a fantastic season-thank you Lady Blue Devils!!!

PS: The last play and the free throws reminded me of Jason and the sweet sixteen loss in '02 against Indiana...hard luck!